Supercars You Can Buy for $50,000 or Less

These performance machines come on the cheap

Most of today’s supercars are well out of the budget of normal folks. That’s a fact. We can argue until the cows come home, but there are reasons why exotic cars routinely command six-figure price tags.

But just because that’s the case for brand-new models, that doesn’t mean you can’t find cheap supercars. Most of of what counts as affordable supercars are typically the ones that are pre-owned. There are a lot of used supercars for sale, ranging from old Italian exotics to modern American performance machines. If for nothing else, this proves that just because brand-new supercars are out of most people’s financial reach, that doesn’t mean you can’t find sweet deals for used exotic cars for sale. We’ve compiled a list of these cheap supercars that you can buy for less than $50,000.

The Ferrari 456 is one of the most underrated Ferrari supercars of all time.

So what if it doesn’t have as dramatic a design as other Ferraris? The 456 is classy in its own way; the design of the car was penned by Pininfarina. It’s also powered by a 5.5-liter V-12 engine that produces 436 horsepower, enabling the grand tourer to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 207 mph.

The 456 also happens to be one of the best-handling supercars Maranello has ever created, and as a fan of pop-up headlamps, the 456 has those, too. But even with all these qualities and characteristics, the 456 GT often gets lost in the shuffle when talking about the finest Ferraris in the world.

The disrespect — yes, the 456 is one of the most disrespected Ferraris of all time, too — is palpable in the amount the 456 sells for these days. Last year, a 1996 456 GT with just under 50,000 miles in its odometer sold for just £35,500. That converts to a little over $43,000 based on current exchange rates.

Compared to more expensive Ferraris that don’t return as much bang for your buck as you’d expect, the 456 is a steal.

Aston Martin models carry a certain class and elegance to them that not a lot of other make-models have. A model like the V8 Vantage is a good example. It’s designed by the legendary Henrik Fisker — his name is going to pop up on this list another time — and it’s unmistakable when you see one on the road.

Even better, the V8 Vantage packs an impressive 4.3-liter V-8 engine that produces 380 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque. That’s fast enough to sprint from
0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 174 mph.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage also benefits from its reliability and ease-of-ownership. Yes, it’s hard to imagine an Aston Martin as "easy to own," but its maintenance doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, at least when you compare it to other exotics from its era.

Granted, a used Aston Martin V8 Vantage comes with a price tag that’s going to scratch the $50,000 threshold, but those models typically have low mileages, as is the case with this particular V8 Vantage that sold for $53,000 at an RM Sotheby’s auction last year.

That specific model only had 10,100 miles on it. There are cheaper V8 Vantages out there in the market; you just have to find them.

The Nissan GT-R is a supercar that doesn’t really belong in this list. A brand new 2020 GT-R starts at $113,540 so it is a bit of a shock to discover that there are used GT-R models that you can buy for under $50,000. That’s a huge steal, right? It is on the surface, but you also have to come to grips with the reality that the GT-R models that do cost below $50,000 are those that are over a decade old, maybe even older. It’s one of the unique things about Godzilla; it’s been around so long without any significant changes that you don’t realize that 2009 models still look a lot like the 2019 models. But there are affordable GT-Rs out there.

Auto.com has a few listings of used 2009 GT-R models and none of them cost more than $50,000. Sure, most have long miles to them — average mileage is around 60,000 miles — but these models are still GT-Rs. You’re not going to find a lot of supercars that are powered by a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine producing 479 horsepower. Even with the expected engine wear-and-tear, these decade-old GT-Rs can still pack a wallop. And one of these models can be yours for less than $50,000. That’s a deal, folks.

Make no mistake, America’s OG sports car deserves a spot on this list. The Dodge Viper remains an appealing option for those who are looking to score a supercar for under $50,000.

Sure, the Viper qualifies more as a sports car, but at this point, it’s just semantics, right? In its heyday, the Viper was powered by one of the biggest engines you’ll see this side of the Atlantic.

The most recent Viper will still cost you well more than $50,000, but if you look through the classifieds for earlier-generation models, you can score a good deal for less than $50K. First-generation models can be yours for less than $40,000, and if you want something more recent, say, second- and third-generation models, you’re going to have to prepare around $50,000. It still falls within the $50K threshold, and you get to take a sports car that packs a massive 8.3-liter V-10 engine that produces anywhere from 500 to 600 horsepower. It’s not just the engine, too. Second-generation models come with anti-lock brakes while third-generation models boast tricked out interiors.

A Porsche 911 is one of the rare cars that’s more than the sum of its parts. Brand new models will set you back around $100,000, but the status symbol that comes with it can be priceless.

That’s why if you have a chance to own a 911 for less than $50,000, that’s a deal you have to take it seriously.

Used versions of the 911 vary in price tags depending on the model year of the sports car, but there are a lot of good deals out there for as long as you know where to look. A lot of 911 Carrera models from earlier this decade can be bought for around $40,000 to $50,000 depending on the mileage and the overall condition of the car. Those are good prices. You can even go a little over your budget for a more recent model that barely has 20,000 miles in the odometer.

If budget is an issue, you can go all the way back to the turbocharged models from the 1980s up to the 2000s. Look hard enough and you can find a great deal for around $30,000 for models that have an average of around 30,000 miles. There are many ways to go when you’re shopping for a used Porsche 911. The choices are endless and the benefits that come with owning one is worth the amount that you’re going to pay for one.

Affordable supercars don’t have to be made in Europe to live up to their billing. There’s a world of exotics that don’t originate in the Old Continent, and one of them is the Acura NSX. No, not the second-generation model that’s currently in the market. I’m talking about the first-generation model that was in the market from 1990 to 2005. The Japanese supercar is regarded as one of the most enticing performance darts of its era, and while the current-gen model will cost you an arm and a leg, the old NSX can be had for as low as $30,000. Yes, $30,000.

Granted, finding one at that price with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer is far easier said than done. You’re going to have to be patient, resourceful, and determined to find a model that suits your style and budget. Some models are up on eBay and you can find one that could be yours in the not-so-distant future. Just be sure to know all the details about the car you’re purchasing before you drop that kind of scratch on an NSX.

The old-school DeTomaso Pantera is hard to come by these days, but it still belongs on this list for being an affordable exotic car, provided that you can find one. The Pantera remains one of the most provocative supercars you’ll ever see. It combines an Italian chassis with an American engine and a style that still evokes an emotional response to this day. The Pantera’s design is so timeless that it can still stand out if it’s sitting in a sea of Ferraris. You know it’s a Pantera just by looking at it.

Even better, the Pantera isn’t just about its timeless looks. It also packs a punch, thanks to the aforementioned American engine — a Ford-sourced 5.8-liter V-8 engine — that packs 326 horsepower and 344 pound-feet of torque.

Temper your expectations, though. If you’re going to buy an OG Pantera, don’t expect that V-8 engine to still carry the same amount of power it used to have. Still, there are ways around it to get the Pantera its growl back. Look hard enough and you can score a great deal that could land you a Pantera for less than $20,000.

Consulier GTP

Some of you might not be familiar with the Consulier GTP, and there’s good reason for that. The American-built supercar didn’t have an eventful life, and the company behind it — Consulier Industries — eventually became the more familiar Mosler Automotive, the company that was responsible for the Intruder and Raptor exotic cars.

The GTP, though, was a sight to behold. It looked like an LMP1 race car that sat on the most outrageous set of wheels you can imagine.

Unfortunately, the GTP didn’t have the power numbers you’d expect from a supercar. It was powered by a 2.2-liter inline-four cylinder engine that produced only 175 horsepower.

Still, the GTP could go. Even with the limited output, the GTP could still hit a top speed of 155 mph.

A big part of the GTP’s appeal, though, isn’t related to its performance capabilities. For a car to look the way that it does is appealing to a lot of people. That’s a big reason why the GTP has its own niche following, even to this day. Used models barely come up on sale, but in the event that they do, they can be had for around $30,000 to $40,000 depending on the condition. A few years ago, a 1990 GTP sold for $28,000.

Probably one of the most beautiful Ferraris of all time, the 360 is a classic in many ways. From its aluminum body, chassis, and suspension to its 3.6-liter V-8 engine that produces 395 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, the 360 Modena is an all-around supercar that’s worth every penny you spend on it.

Drive it on the road and its tremendous handling and performance capabilities will stand out in ways that you’d expect out of a car produced in Maranello.

If the 360 has an issue, it’s fuel consumption. Earlier models were considered gas guzzlers, and it wasn’t until the model’s mid-cycle refresh that Ferrari addressed that small blip. So if you’re in the market for a 360, focus on models that were build from 2002 onwards. You’re going to spend right around the $50,000 limit, but let’s face it, you’re buying a Ferrari. That alone makes it worth it.

I’m not going to lie. The Maserati GranTurismo is one of the best supercar purchases you can get for under $50,000. Unlike the Ferraris and Porsches in this list, you can buy them at the said price range, but you’re going to have to trade in a few creature comforts for the amount that you’re willing to spend on it.

The GranTurismo, on the other hand, is different. It was launched in 2007, making it one of the “newest” models in this list. The coupe’s gorgeous looks can still stand out to this day, and the same can be said for the interior.

The GranTurismo is also powered by a Ferrari-sourced 4.2-liter V-8 engine that produces 400 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. These figures help the coupe accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 177 mph.

Arguably the best part of the GranTurismo is that it won’t cost you your whole life savings to buy one. Just last month, a 2008 GranTurismo with only 12,000 miles on the odometer sold for $29,000. That’s not a bad deal, folks.

Kirby’s first exposure into the world of automobiles happened when he caught Knight Rider on television as a five-year old boy. David Hasselhoff didn’t leave much of an impression on him (that happened later on in Baywatch), but KITT certainly did. To this day, Kirby remains convinced that he will one day own a car with the same ‘spirit’ as the original KITT (not the 2008 monstrosity). He doesn't know when that will be, but until then, he’s committed to expressing his love for KITT, and all cars for that matter, here at TopSpeed.
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